“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3: 10-11 (NIV)
What does Paul mean? Here’s what I think… In any close relationship we have, wouldn’t you agree that the thing we want the most is to be understood? I mean REALLY understood. When we love someone dearly we want intimate fellowship with that someone. By intimate, I mean souls that are tied together. I think of the friendship between David and Jonathan – they shared a common heart, they cared deeply for and were committed to each other, not to mention they were both spiritually in tune and wanted God’s best for the other.
Now when it comes to suffering, perhaps we ache and long for our loved one to enter into our suffering. Think about this… Intimacy with God blossoms when we enter “the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.” When suffering is shared, hearts can’t help but be meshed together. We are then made conformable to his death when we die to sin, as Christ died for sin. When we are crucified with Christ, the world is crucified to us, and we to the world. This is what it means to become like Him in His death.
Here is something from another post, but I feel it should be reposted…
My beloved, it is impossible to know ME without entering into MY life’s experiences. When you love someone dearly, your desire is for them to share in your joys and your precious treasures. But to really love and to truly share, one must enter the valley of pain together with those whom you love. You must weep together and be rejected together. That is why My children in the prisons and torture chambers of the world know Me like none of My other children. To reject suffering only proves you lack of knowing and understanding Me. Because I love you and want to draw you even closer to Me, I have permitted you to fellowship with Me in suffering. For I have much glory and much blessing still in store for you.